Our Proposal Story: He asked, I said "Yes":

WISHING & WAITING. That was the hard part... and everyone else being in on the secret. :)

Saturday morning, the epic events started, with one surprise after another. My best friend Courtney was in town, which doesn't happen very often. Not knowing when she'd ever be BACK in town, we thought "Hell, lets' start looking at dresses!" I know, I know, some people say that's bad luck; but I knew that my boyfriend, Isaiah, and I were so deeply in love. We both knew we would be married, someday, so we went ahead and did things backwards! We booked The Great Hall, Hennepin Ave, Events by MV, and Camelot Photography, as well as Dana J Photography. This day would happen for us, and I wasn't about to let some traditional myths get in theway! I was Courtney's Maid of Honor last July, so we've known for a while, that one day, she would return the favor and be my Maid of Honor; and I always knew I would want her around, when it was time to do my dress search. So, moving forward, she made a 9am bridal appointment for me at Wedding Shoppe, Inc. in St.Paul, on Saturday, the 24th of September. This was special in and of itself, because I used to work there. I love Wedding Shoppe, Inc. & the ladies there, and Grand Avenue in St. Paul, MN is where I made many of my college memories. We checked in, and Lesley greeted us, asking if it would just be the two of us. Perky and cheerful, I immediately replied, "YEP!," but Courtney interjected... "There might be some more, SURPRISE!" I'm like, "WHO THE HECK?" Lesley asked if the surprise guest was a boy, explaining that men aren't allowed upstairs, to which Courtney replied that our mystery guest was not a male. Okay... So, now I am UBER-confused. Upstairs, I was greeted by Carolyn, who actually remembered me! I thought to myself, "Fantastic! What a good day!" We went into the bridal room, and began telling Carolyn what I like and don't like, and what I have envisioned for our shabby-chic vintage wedding theme. Carolyn suggests, "What about lace?" and I go on, saying I love it, but I cannot go without a bra on my wedding day, when just outside the door, I hear it: KNOCK KNOCK ... I wonder, "Is this my surprise... or another consultant wanting to speak with Carolyn?!" Nope. Wrong. My MOM peeks in. I stand back, jaw dropped, hands covering my mouth. I just stare and wait. After what felt like a full minute, I say, "MOM!?!?!" I have not seen my mother in THREE YEARS. Courtney says, "Surprise!!! Isaiah flew her in from Texas!" She had flown in on Thursday, which had been a secret for two whole days already! Not to mention, the months ahead of this, during which, everyone had already known she would be arriving. I never thought I'd be looking at wedding dresses with my mom, I spent the last few months preparing myself for the day I'd be a bride on the search for her perfect dress without her mother. Finally, after moments (which felt like hours) of pure shock, my mom came over to me, putting a hold on the discussion that Carolyn and I were having, for lots of hugs and lots of tears. A few moments later, some other Wedding Shoppe, Inc. ladies thanked us for involving them with such a special moment, informing us that they, too, were moved to tears! Moving forward, I tried on about ten dresses, but kept going back to THE VERY FIRST ONE. I loved it. It felt like Carolyn and Tony Bowls had met the night before and created the dress just for me. I'm pretty sure I've found my dress... with my mom and my best friend, at a lovely shop with a great consultant! Good surprise, good morning. The rest of the afternoon was spent with my mom and my boyfriend, Isaiah, looking at the Arboretum, where Isaiah had sneakily planned to take engagement photos next Sunday. Of course, I didn't know about this, yet; but he had it all planned out with Matt, from Camelot Photography, ahead of time. We were also able to go show my mom the church we had chosen, and The Great Hall, in downtown St.Paul.

-- Sunday morning, September 25th 2011 --

Isaiah woke up and left early in the morning to go workout. I'm thinking "Alright, he does that every morning... so, obviously, normal." The plan was for him to come home, wake me up, and everyone would get ready to go to church, just like any other Sunday, except, this weekend, we would bring my mom along with us! While Isaiah was in the shower, I got on Facebook, to chat Courtney, and ask when she was heading back home to Bemidji. She replied, "Probably noon. Is Isaiah dragging you and mom to church?" I'm a little bummed out, 'cause, yes, we gotta go to church, so I won't see Courtney before she heads back home. In the back of my mind, I think to myself, "I don't always go with Isaiah to church, so maybe, my mom and I can just stay behind...?" But quickly remind myself, that Isaiah's parents will be at church, so it'd be good for my mom to meet them. So, church, it is. We continued to get ready, got in the car, and started driving. I'm texting my little cousin, Lexy, just going about an average Sunday morning. Once I look up, I notice something's different... I look to Isaiah and say, "This isn't the way to church..." He cleverly tells me that he heard that there's construction on I-94, so we're taking a back-way. OK, sure. Back to texting, I go. My next text to Lexy says, "We're supposed to be going to church, but this isn't the way to church. I know the way to church and this isn't it." She writes back, and says, "maybe a different church for your mom?!" ... Hmm, could be so. We park, and we're in a lot. I ask Isaiah where we're going. He says, "We're taking your mom to a different service." OK, whatevs. But then, I notice that we're in downtown Minneapolis, at Seven Corners. I see purple everywhere. I know my mom likes the Vikings, while Isaiah and I are huge Packer fans (his dad used to play for the Packers). I stop in my tracks, and say, "ISAIAH. I AM NOT GOING TO A VIKING GAME!" He laughs, and says, "Come on." Turning the corner, there isn't much around, but I see the sign for The Southern Theater. He turns inside, and I follow. Isaiah tells me that there's a special guest speaker. I ask if he's the guest speaker, knowing he loves to speak, and speaks at a lot of events. He replied that it's not him. I head into the theater, following my mom and Isaiah. It's brick. It's dark. I'm like, "Oh boy." ... I don't like it. I don't wanna go in. Isaiah grabs my hand, and sits me down, front and center. He hands my mom a chunk of papers, and yells up to the top "HEY EVERYBODY!" I look around... there's no one here... Who is "everybody"? Where is everybody? A few minutes later, all of the people that I love most come from the top of the theater, towards me. And still, I literally couldn't even imagine what was going on; even though I have been waiting for so long! Best friends, our friend and wedding photographer, Dana, my parents, his parents, uncles, friends of friends. This is everyone I love. Everyone who is near and dear to my heart. Hailing from all over the United States, from Minnesota to Texas. Isaiah rented a theater, and got them all here for what was about to happen. Busy hugging everyone, Isaiah sneaks off, and I can't find him. Courtney is the last to hug me, and she whispers in my ear "This is it!" and takes a seat behind me. Front and center, I sit down and watch the stage before me.

Cue Music. Cue Isaiah.

Over the past few weeks, when I thought Isaiah was "working out" or "going to visit his parents," he was really planning this moment. Weeks prior, he went to my dad's house, where they chatted over breakfast, as Isaiah asked for his blessing to take my hand in marriage. Isaiah met with a music-savvy friend, and wrote a song, adding some guitar and music, then put it onto a CD. The first song played, was the one Isaiah wrote and sang for me. He danced during the entire song. He later told me, that during our nights of watching So You Think You Can Dance season 8, he knew he wanted to create a dance for me, because that is my passion. At the end of the song, Isaiah kneeled down on one knee and popped the question: "Sarah, Will You Marry Me?" Tears. Tears from me. Tears from those who sat behind me. Happy giggling and happy laughter. I, of course, said "YES!" and afterwards, Marry Me, by Train, was the next song on the CD. Everyone echoed with cheers and applause. Pictures and hugs, all around. Dana was there to capture every moment. Deb was there to videograph the whole thing. After the theater emptied, Isaiah and I went to Afton Apple Orchard, with Dana and her husband. I couldnt have had a better "Sunday Funday" with a more perfect man. I couldn't have dreamed of a better proposal story. Below are the Lyrics that Isaiah wrote & sang:

Verse 1:

It's amazing how a song can make you think of someone dear

You hear the chorus and smile, or maybe shed a tear

But when you know a song is just for you, it's something else

Since you friended me on facebook, I've been beside myself

I'm happy that you found me, and thought you'd say "hello"

United by the best team, green and yellow, green and yellow

The timing was just perfect, a beginning and an end

And now, I'm so lucky, to be lovin' my best friend.

CHORUS:

I wanna give you my name, I wanna give you my name

Girl, I hope it shows!

I wanna give you a ring, I wanna give you a ring

So everybody knows!

(Repeat)

Verse 2:

Bless the broken road, that led me straight to you

There was destiny entagled, in all that we went through,

Thank you to your past, that brought you to today,

Now it's all about the future, and that's all I've got to say

If there isn't trust, what's a relationship to be?

I never thought a key, could mean so much to me.

Flowers, bows, and elephants, and old antiquey things,

Patience, love and partnership, and a big, pink, fancy ring

CHORUS:

I wanna give you my name, I wanna give you my name

Girl, I hope it shows!

I wanna give you a ring, I wanna give you a ring

So everybody knows!

(Repeat)

Bridge:

I've learned to speak your language, so they can't buy my time

Your legs must be tired, cuz your running through my mind

I know the time each day,when you always make a wish

And then on our big day, we'll be anxious for that kiss

You finally found a Good-man, you can turn that page

If I ever get the nerves, to come across this stage

CHORUS:

I wanna give you my name, I wanna give you my name

Girl, I hope it shows!

I wanna give you a ring, I wanna give you a ring

So everybody knows!

(Repeat 2x)

~~

Thanks for submitting your proposal story, Sarah!

Be sure to leave some love for her and her fiancé in the comments below, for her chance to win a pair of Twin City Bridal Association Wedding Fair tickets! The winner will be announced on October 3rd, 2011. Best of luck, Sarah!

To view the complete rules of our TCBA Wedding Fair ticket giveaway, please read our post: Twin City Bridal Association Wedding Fair Ticket Giveaway, on My Wedding Chat. For more information on the Twin City Bridal Association Wedding Fair, please visit The Wedding Fair on the TCBA website. Wedding Shoppe Inc. is your "One Stop Wedding Shoppe" - offering hundreds of designer bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, bridal party dresses, and much more! Stop by, and visit us at this year’s October Wedding Fair, on October 9th, 2011.

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